New outpost near Hebron: Yehuda 2
Yesterday, during our vigil, (July 18) we found the extension (illegal outpost) of Havat Yehuda settler-colony. Today we went into the details. The man running Havat Yehuda is called Elyashiv Nahum. The central part of this ranch is located inside the illegal outpost of Eshtamo’a (see Talya Sasson’s report on the outposts). He has extended the ranch another 3 kilometers on the other side of the road, opposite the gate of Sham’a. We came with a jeep today and tried to take pictures of the ranch. He saw us from afar and tried to run and chase us away. We re-entered our vehicle and drove back to the main road. He entered his own car and followed us.
We stopped, he stopped. Each disembarked and a war of cameras ensued. Accompanied by talks. The cameras went silent. Elyashiv said they have permits from the Israel Land Administration. He tried to show me these permits on his phone but couldn’t find them. Said Zanouta villagers sold him the land. That he does not invade privately-owned fields with his flocks. That Yinon from Meitarim ranch also had agreements with Zanouta villagers. And in short, it is only we, leftists, who kindle the atmosphere, and otherwise everything runs smoothly and legally.
I asked him: if this is so, why was he chasing me? What has he got to hide? He did not answer.
At some distance stood a police van, and Elyashiv tried to get the policemen involved. They didn’t approach us. He said he knew who I was, that he already googled me and knows everything…
I think (I know this from Hagit Oftan of Peave Now) that he held a Crowd Funding Campaign to expand his ranch, all without any permits from anyone. He also said that all the lands there are included in the masterplan for settler-colony Sham’a. Otherwise, I don’t understand how he has money to build what he is buiding now. I reported this to Hagit Ofran and to Dror Etkes. We left heavy-hearted.
The entire settler-colonist project is illegal, and they have never heard of human dignity. At least, not of Palestinian human dignity.
Hebron
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According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.
Checkpoints observed in H2:
- Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
- Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
- The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
- Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station
Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs
Lea ShakdielMay-27-2025Hebron, settlers vandalized the sign of the girls' school
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Zanuta
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Zanuta was a small rural Palestinian locality until its demolition. It was situated in the space around the town Dahariya in the South Hebron Hills, about a ten-minute ride from Meitar Checkpoint. There are documented remains of a large Byzantine settlement in the area. Since the Ottoman (Turkish Empire) period (1516-1917) Zanuta was documented as a locality of shepherds and farmers who live in the remains of the ancient structures and the residential caves near them.
Two individual ranches of colonists were created next to Zanuta: Meitarim (of the colonist Yinon Levi) to the east, and Yehudah (of the colonist Elyashiv Nachum) to the north. Endless attacks, harassments and attempt to chase away the Zanuta villagers have originated in these two outposts.
Until the expulsion, four families lived in the village: A-Samama, Al-Tel, Al Batat, and Al-Qaisia. Farming constituted their main economic activity and employed most of the villagers. The total area of the village is about 12,000 dunams, of which about 3,000 are tended, mostly with field crops.
This village has never had a master plan that would legitimize construction permits. The Civil Administration claimed it was too small and the distance to the next town, Dahariya, too great. For this reason, the Israeli authorities pressured the villagers to leave. The colonists did the job for them.
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